Soles coming off in chunks!

Auslander

Auslander

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Firstly - the horse is shod. I'm not anti unshod/barefoot, and he was unshod behind for a long time, but he already has other issues, and I felt it was unfair to a horse that was already hurting to add footiness whilst transitioning to his woes. I'm sure thats very short sighted of me, but Hey! He's also sound with heel support, and lame without!

However, I'm really interested to hear from those of you who know your stuff about feet. He grows a massively thick sole, which periodically drops off in big chunks. It's white, dry and doesn't smell, and the new sole below looks very healthy. I've known horses lose chunks of sole before, but there has always been a degree of softness, smelliness and general unhealthiness. I'm fascinated to know why he's doing this! It saved his bacon yesterday, as he spread a hind shoe, and trod on two ails which appeared to go straight into his sole - but as he's busily shedding a load of sole at the moment, the nails went into the stuff he's getting rid of, and didn't puncture live sole - thank goodness!
 
Disclamier, I'm no expert! First, photos would be good for experienced peeps.

In my understanding, sole is normally exfoliated by varying surfaces and hoof flexing but can build up in layers if the hooves are protected by a shoe/long walls for eg. and then can come out in chunks. There is a term 'retained sole' that is sometimes used.
 
Last edited:
amandap said:
Disclamier, I'm no expert! First, photos would be good for experienced peeps.

In my understanding, sole is normally exfoliated by varying surfaces and hoof flexing but can build up in layers if the hooves are protected by a shoe/long walls for eg. and then can come out in chunks. There is a term 'retained sole' that is sometimes used.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Never seen it to quite such a degree before - mind you, this horse doesn't do anything by halves!
 
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